We're just back from a super amazing vacation in France - one week at this gorgeous little beach house in the town of Montalivet on the Atlantic coast, where Jude and his friend Hugo spent the week playing in the sand and sun and generally getting up to tons of hilarious 3 year old shenanigans. There is nothing more relaxing on a family vacation than kids that are happily occupied!

At Plage du Pin Sec - endless miles of beach, shells to poke, surfers to watch...

Much time was spent doing absolutely nothing...

Or doing really important stuff like coaxing snails out of their shells...

We took the ferry to Royan to visit the Zoo de la Palmyre (completely amazing - the animals are close enough to touch in many cases - quite a different experience from the average American zoo), reading books before long afternoon naps, our bedroom window at the beach house (above which were roosting a family of doves - there's nothing quite like a late afternoon nap with the breeze in the curtains and the sounds cooing doves in the background)...

A brief pause in Bordeaux on our way to catch the train the Paris...the fountain at Place des Quinconces...

Oh how I LOVE Paris - every time we go, it just blows me away all over again.

The night before we got on the train to France, I told Jude (grooming him to be on my side for future campaigns for more French vacations) that we were going to spend a whole week eating gateaux, glace, fromage and croissants - he couldn't sleep he was so excited - and we did. Macarons galore, chocolate every day! Vacation rules dictate that is is perfectly okay to have éclairs for lunch - who can resist a display like this after all?

Visited the Dynamo exhibit at Le Grand Palais - a pretty fabulous exhibit of notions of space, vision and light run through the abstract art of the 20th century which involved a lot fun of kinetic, op and light-based art which was a big hit with the toddler set. Here Jude enjoys a pretty remarkable installation piece that blurs the line between two and three dimensions.

Other highlights included the Galerie d'evolution in le Jardin des Plantes - literally like stepping into a cabinet of curiosities, hitting le Marais for the annual sales (held twice a year in January and July), le Musée de la chasse et de la nature (one of my all time favorite museums in the world), the carousel at Jardin du Luxembourg, and taking the Batobus down the Seine to get home one afternoon (touristy stigma aside, it was turned out to be a great way to get home after slogging all over Paris in the sun and Jude loved the boat ride.)

This adorable map from Herb Lester - Paris en Famille - a little guide to kid friendly places to check out in Paris, came in handy and had some great suggestions.

We were lucky enough to get to know the ladies of Ladyfingers Letterpress at the Louie Awards ceremony where we got to sit with them. They were so much fun and we love how their personality comes through in their colorful and clever designs.

This was the first time we had heard of Permanent Collection and we loved their colorful booth and great letterpress designs. They were as nice as could be and we're so glad we know about them now, we'll be following along and checking out what they continue to do for sure!

Sapling Press never fails to make us laugh, we spent a long time in their booth reading all of their new cards. Geniuses they are. We couldn't decide which cards to share with you so here are some of our favorites.

We first discovered the embroidered work of Coral & Tusk at a local wedding fair where a vendor had a beautifully stitched table runner on display. We loved the detailed feathers and immediately sought out more of their work online.

Founded in 2007 by Stephanie Housley together with her husband Chris Lacinak, Coral & Tusk creates work inspired by their travels all over the globe. Their love of animals, adventure, and the natural world are reflected in every piece they create. We're especially fond of their stitched animals who always seem to be celebrating.

A RISD-trained textile designer, Stephanie creates all of her scenes and irreverent characters as original pencil drawings before she redraws them stitch by stitch using special computer software. Finished by hand in Coral and Tusk's Brooklyn loft, every machine-embroidered pillow, doll, napkin and artwork retains the story-telling spirit and hand-drawn allure of the original illustration. A mix of smart design, magic and mischief is at the heart of every Coral & Tusk embroidery.

We just stumbled across the work of Mr. Finch, a textile artist from Leeds in Yorkshire, and were immediately enamored by his ethereal and whimsical creations.

Finch says he is inspired by British folklore, shape shifting witches, and moon gazing hares. We love that he believes the animals he creates come to life at night when everyone is sleeping. It's no surprise that his creatures feel so magical.

He has had no formal training which is completely inspiring.

Love this sea horse...

This charming hare reminds us of the Velveteen Rabbit.

Check out more of his work here and here. You can pick up some of his pieces at his Etsy shop.

I have two dogs and thus can tell you, with some authority, that a truly fabulous dog bed (and by that I mean one that isn't varying shades of neutral or plain ol' preppy striped) is tough to find. Needless to say, I was super excited to discover Felix & Milou, a brand new dog bed line by Tove Jakobsson -huzzah! Finally, something with a little style!

Her cushions are all made by hand from lovely graphic Swedish fabrics. They're sized for a cat or small dog, hopefully soon, a bigger size to come! I fear poor Indy is getting the shaft, being more in the medium to large range. But wouldn't they make great floor cushions around a low table as well?

This is the one I purchased - a fabric by Cecilia Hall Åhlens that has a lovely Josef Frank vibe - beautifully made and adorable in person!

All the cushion covers are removable and washable. Check out the rest of her products here.

It's hard to believe it's been over four years since we first featured the work of Abigail Brown on our blog. Her textiles had caught our attention back then, and she still continues to inspire us. Her collection of hand crafted birds are some of the most intricate textile pieces we've ever seen, and to top it off she incorporates reusable materials in her designs. A London dweller now, Abigail inherited her skills from her seamstress grandmother, and while she has transformed the long-time craft into fine art sculpture, her attention to detail is craftsmanship at its finest.

We are simply in awe of the work involved with these pieces. Our favorite might be the classy Californian Quail adorned in chic herringbone.

Her felted fledglings make timeless gifts for the bird-lovers in your life, but if they are out of price range you can still enjoy her work in other ways. Abigail's shop is full of prints, postcards, plush toys and every day accessories.

Abigail does more than just birds. Her butterfly brooches are just as elaborate and beautiful but are affordable for all!

To view more of Abigail Brown's work, click here and to get your hands on your very own, visit her shop!

Last Friday a few of us were lucky enough to visit Chloé Fleury in her studio in San Francisco's Mission District. Chloé's studio is in her apartment and we found inspiration in every corner of her home. Her space was full of light, colorful, and modern. We could have stayed there for hours and all left feeling inspired to go home and work on art projects.

(everything in this photo except the bear mask is made from paper)

If you aren't already familiar with Chloé's work this will be a fun look into her world. She creates amazing sculptures and illustrations with paper and it was so much fun to see her work scattered throughout her home. We snapped quite a few photos so you can see the loveliness yourself. Enjoy!

(a shot from Chloe's living room)

(we were even inspired by her chairs and pillows)

(paper lady with fox mask & an ice cream truck made from paper)

Chloé moved to San Francisco from France and told us she didn't start making her paper sculptures until she arrived here four years ago. One of her main inspirations? San Francisco's color and architecture. This piece is from her first show which was at the (recently closed) Curiosity Shoppe.

(Chloé's workspace)

(amazing paper guitar sculpture)

(one of Chloé's iconic paper bunny heads)

(paper bikes and a look at Chloe's library)

(there was beautiful paper every where we turned)

(Eunice & Chloe)

Thank you so much for letting us visit your studio & your home Chloé! We're still feeling inspired from the visit.

See more of Chloé's work in her Etsy shop and follow along with her daily inspiration on her blog.

How clever are these Wee Gallery Dress Up animal cards? As stationers it's sometimes a challenge to come up with designs that can be suitable for both kids and adults, but these cards definitely bridge that gap. We love the simple and painterly illustrations and the thought of kids customizing these card for a friend or sibling. So sweet! The Wee Gallery definitely has a knack for kids, and their focus on making “smart art for little minds” is brilliant. Getting kids to channel their creativity at a young age is a great way to inspire new ideas and we've got to give props to Wee Gallery for contributing.

They also just released a book to go along with the clever cards! It would be a great stocking stuffer or gift for kids (oh, and did we say this is fun for adults too?!) We can probably come up with 32 ways to dress up a pig, bunny, and fox. Can you?

Since Jude, Alex, and James are all obsessed with sea creatures and animals (remember their costume sneak peek?), these Sea wall graphics would make a fantastic addition to their rooms.

Watch out crewcuts, these images from Marimekko's kids collection are reaching the top of the cute chart. It's not unusual that we are caught wishing kids clothing came in adult sizes, but once we see those little bodies show off those fashionable threads, they're definitely making a spot on our wish list. Marimekko has always inspired us with their colorful patterns and bold decor, but now that we're seeing more of them in our every day lives, we're even more in love.

And with all the little boys in our H!L family, we're obsessing over their toy car illustrations. Who wouldn't want to trek that backpack to the first day of school next year!?

Visit their beautiful US website right here, and be sure to check out the kids collection here!

This year we're starting a new feature on the blog showcasing some of our favorite local shops, eateries, and spots in both San Francisco and London. We're kicking off with a unique vintage shop in Cole Valley called Tantrum. From the moment we first saw the circus themed window display and sign, to the precious stop-motion video of their shop, it's definitely a new favorite. Tantrum, located on 858 Cole Street, has a sweet collection of mid-century and vintage items for kids of all ages.

They not only carry awesome kids stuff, but one-of-a-kind housewares for moms and dads too! We're really digging all the rich colors in this photo.

We fell in love with them once we saw the sneak peek on Modern Kiddo, then when we saw co-owners Amanda and Michelle in these vintage get-ups and it kept getting better. They gave a fabulous Q & A and we can't wait to get our hands on some of their goodies.

It's getting colder and the days are getting shorter, meaning we're gearing up for the winter months ahead. Snow is falling in many parts of the world creating a gorgeous white backdrop for our favorite winter weddings. There's something very romantic about a winter ceremony, whether it's the peacefulness of the seasons or that friends and family slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. We've gathered a few of our favorite Pins from Pinterest in a Winter Wedding Roundup. Getting engaged this season? Winter is a beautiful time to say "I do," so take a peek at these images for inspiration for 2013.

This romantic garden wedding has inspired us in many ways. From the delicate florals and the gorgeous scenery provided by Bear Flag Farm, to the subtle hues of pink and sage, we've found ourselves captivated by every last detail. Melissa and Jay truly executed a marvelous event and we feel fortunate to have been a part of it. Their wedding stationery inspired us to create the Midsummer wedding suite, a simple yet elegant floral design perfect for the modern bride and groom. You can read more about this wedding over at wedding Elizabeth Anne Designs and see more lovely photos by Lisa Lefkowitz.

Pictured here is the original letterpress printed invitation for Melissa and Jay, now called Midsummer. The classic champagne and charcoal ink colors create a for a delicate, contemporary design.

What a picture perfect day. Complete with olive oil favors and a night of dancing, we'd say this wedding is one to remember. Congratulations Melissa and Jay!

These lovely illustrations by London based artist Charlotte Trounce have us giddy with design envy. The whimsical, hand-painted illustrations are definitely up our alley, and we're crazy about her compositions and bold color palettes. Plus, they embody some of our favorite things about Hello!Lucky's second home.

Charlotte created this alphabet in honor of the 2012 London Olympics. Hilarious! To see more of her work, head over to charlottetrounce.tumblr.com

Agesandages - No Nostalgia from Philippe Tytgat on Vimeo.
Is there a new genre brewing in the design world? It seems the art of chalk lettering has become quite the trend, so we're unofficially crowning this video the king of the unofficial genre "Chalkography." The music video for Agesandages called No Nostalgia has to be one of the most inspiring typography videos we've seen lately. French artist Philippe Tytgat hand lettered the lyrics to No Nostalgia making for a totally original and compelling visual story.

Has everyone been introduced to Darling Clementine's new collection Harvest? If not, we're delighted to do the honors. We've been huge fans of Darling Clementine since long before they agreed to be a guest designer for our 2011 Holiday Collection, and were thrilled when they wanted to work with our team. Harvest, a collection of prints, cards, gift wrap (and more!) is a perfect way to welcome the fall and winter seasons. The pairing of cool blues and grays with warm reds and pinks makes us melt with design envy. Check out the Harvest collection right here!

Never thought you'd have a sweet tooth for art, would you? Modern pastry chefs are breaking ground with painterly wedding cakes. We can't think of a better way to express yourself on your big day than with a work of art on your dessert table. It's amazing what food coloring can accomplish these days, and with stunners like this rosy wonder (shown above, by Amelie's House), it's clear these chefs can do anything.

This dramatic ombre style by Charm City Cakes (found via Design Sponge) tops the charts. Duff and Co. certainly know how to have fun with their tasty treats, but this four-tiered beauty is - in all seriousness - beautiful.

It's true we may favorite the soft florals and vintage style, but this graphic silhouette cake by My Sweet and Saucy would be perfect for a bold and whimsical wedding.

Of course the team at Martha Stewart Weddings has a spot on our list, impressing us again with this french silk ribbon cake. It is retro and modern, with a subtle ikat texture, and would dazzle the dessert table at any occasion. All of these cakes are found in our Wedding Cake board on Pinterest. Check it out here for more cake love!

Wedding season may be coming to an end soon, but we know how important it is to plan ahead. Seasonal trends will come and go but once you've chosen your wedding invitations it's easy to create a complete look. We're still busy pinning inspiration around some of our most popular wedding invitation designs. Our Pinterest Wedding Inspiration Boards are a great way to develop a look without aimlessly scrolling through image after image. Whether you're having a bright modern wedding or a rustic, natural wedding, our inspiration boards have lots to offer. Above is a mini collage of our favorite images from our Big Day Inspiration Board. This wedding invitation speaks loudly to our fans, and with the whimsical wording and bold typeface it's a shoe-in for a splashy event.

As parents and adults, we encourage creativity and imagination for kids. One of the most treasured activities we remember growing up is building forts. Nothing brought more joy than gathering blankets, pillows, towels, cushions, and any item that could turn the bedroom into a private fortress, much to our parents chagrin. The mess was a handful, but the end product always made great memories. Now our favorite childhood pastime has turned into a sophisticated and trendy home accessory. These talented bloggers and parents have shared images of their own indoor tents and they're pitching a frenzy among crafty moms around the web. The tent above takes teepee to a whole new level. Found via Black Eiffel from Frank Features, those stars are a fun addition to any kids room.

This A-frame tent made by Rubyellen of My Cakies is a simple DIY and can easily be broken down and stored. With elastic bands sewn to the corners and washable fabrics, this tent makes parent playtime a cinch and kids playtime a dream come true.

It's officially Fashion Week and we're gearing up for some major trend watching. Although we may not be hitting the runways any time soon, we're constantly gathering inspiration from all the exotic textiles and handmade garments. With Fashion Week comes a wave of fashion focused blog posts and images. We're really digging the tasteful and whimsical illustrations by artist Samantha Hahn. As a New York native, Samantha sees new fashion trends everywhere she goes. Her couture illustrations give a nod to the groundbreaking designers but keep within her own aesthetic and we're loving her painterly style.

To view more of Samantha's work, head over to her website and be sure to read her blog Maquette for insider designs and inspiration.

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Hello!Lucky

Letterpress Cards & Stationery

At Hello!Lucky we specialize in Letterpress greeting cards, as well offer DIY step by steps & free printables. Led by sisters Eunice and Sabrina Moyle, our small team of expert designers and artisan letterpress printers specialize in creating neon & foil, holiday cards, birthday cards, & thank you cards, that are full of creativity and whimsy. We've been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Design Sponge, Style Me Pretty, Real Simple, and many other leading publications. Please feel feel to contact us via chat, phone or e-mail - we'd be happy to assist you!